Paul Casey got defensive, and in this case that was a good thing.
The 41-year-old Englishman closed with a 1-over-par 72 and successfully defended his title in the Valspar Championship, winning by one stroke over Jason Kokrak and Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa on the Copperhead Course at https://www.innisbrookgolfresort.com/golf/copperhead-course Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla.
“Last year was so big that I felt like it was the first victory of my career,” said Casey, who was winless on the PGA Tour for nine years before claiming his second title on the circuit in the 2018 Valspar. “It gave me new confidence.
“I’m getting older, but I feel like I’m getting better. It’s awesome to come back and defend my title in the Valspar. It’s a great tournament. But it wasn’t easy.”
Casey, who bounced back after missing the cut last week in the Players Championship, claimed his 19th victory as a pro by making a clutch par from a fairway bunker on the final hole to finish 72 holes at 8-under 272.
Kokrak, who shot 71 in search of his first PGA Tour victory, was tied for the lead playing one group ahead of Casey, but missed a nine-foot par putt on the final hole, while Oosthuizen finished with a 69 and also had a costly late bogey on the 16th hole.
Bubba Watson warmed up for his title defense this week in the WGC-Dell Match Play with a 68 that left him two shots back in a tie for fourth with Sungjae Im of South Korea, who had a 70.
Top-ranked Dustin Johnson, who was one stroke behind Casey starting the final round, could not make a birdie while struggling to a 74 and finished one more down in a tie for sixth with 10-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain, who wound up at 68, and Ryan Armour, who came in at 69.
Austin Cook, who shared the 36-hole lead, totaled 72 to wind up four strokes back in a tie for ninth with Denny McCarthy, who had a 69, and Luke Donald of England and Scott Stallings, who both closed with 73.
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